FORGET-HER-NOTS

Freshman Laurel, who is grieving her mother’s recent death, has flower power. As she explains at the beginning of the book, each flower has a different meaning, and young men and ladies used to communicate via small bouquets. Thanks to her expertise, Laurel gains a reputation as a florist to the lovelorn—but there’s more to it than that. Not realizing the full potential of her talents, she sends the student body into a frenzy of lustful crushes. With the guidance of a teacher, Laurel learns that she is a Flowerspeaker, one of a long line of women who have special talents with flowers. Her Flowerspeaker talents bring Laurel closer to her estranged grandmother and help in healing the loss she and her father both feel. The boarding-school setting and strong thematic ties to the Victorian era give this book a gothic feeling. Laurel is an admirable heroine, always supportive of her friends but never a pushover. A unique twist on romantic paranormal mystery, this is sure to appeal to girls who have outgrown fairy princesses but aren’t ready for sexy vampires. (Supernatural. 12 & up)